Specific foods were linked to better cognitive and physical health outcomes even in your late 70s
Fast food was linked to a longer, more sociable life in recent study which may have discovered the ultimate diet for longevity. The research, which spanned over three decades, suggests that one particular diet could be the key to reaching your late 70s in good health.
The Alternative Healthy Eating Index could potentially be the ultimate anti-ageing diet, offering superior long-term health outcomes compared to even the Mediterranean or plant-based diets. This diet emphasises the consumption of large quantities of vegetables, fruits, legumes and nuts.
While meat, fish, and dairy are occasionally permitted in the diet, red and processed meats, salt, trans fats and sweetened drinks are all limited.
The diet was found to be particularly beneficial for smokers or overweight individuals, not just in terms of longevity but also in improving health during these additional years. Those who adhered to this diet had an 86% higher chance of reaching the age of 70 in good health.
Published in Nature Medicine, the study tracked 105,000 middle-aged nurses and health professionals over 30 years using dietary questionnaires. By the end of the study, only 9,771 participants were considered to have aged healthily.
The researchers cautioned that further research is required to explore the links between these diets and longevity, particularly their effects on younger people who were not included in this study. The research also discovered that individual foods can have varying effects when consumed over a long period.
For instance, those who regularly indulged in olive oil and avocados demonstrated 40% better physical function and outperformed individuals who exercised frequently but did not consume these foods, as reported by News Medical. Interestingly, the study found a correlation between consuming fast food and snacks and living beyond the age of 70.
However, the researchers pointed out that this is likely not due to the nutritional value of such foods, but rather the social aspects associated with dining out. The Planetary Health Diet Index was ranked just below the alternative healthy eating index.
It had the most significant impact on cognitive health and longevity up to the age of 70. This diet considers the environmental implications of our food choices, thereby promoting plant-based eating.
The Reversed Empirical Dietary Index for Hyperinsulinemia, which tailors the diet according to insulin levels, was identified as the most effective diet plan for preventing chronic diseases. The study also highlighted that individuals adhering to these healthier dietary patterns typically had a higher socioeconomic status, were more physically active, had a lower BMI, and exhibited lower rates of depression.
